S. Caribbean or Hawaii Cruise?

[mexico5]

Hi, we put down a deposit for NCL Dawn Southern Caribbean cruise in December 2009. We have done the Western and Eastern so far. Now I am second guessing myself and wondering about the Hawaiian cruise on Pride of America. The reason is that airfare is SO expensive from Western Canada that it is a little cheaper to fly to Honolulu and less flying time than Miami or Ft. Lauderdale and that we would be away from our dog 2 days less...I know...but we love our dog.

 

For those of you who have done both...is this kind of the comparison in a nutshell? ( I have read a lot of reviews on the POM) Think of the Hawaiian one as the Ports are the most important thing and it is basically a hotel that feeds you and you sleep there, with no sea days and ports everyday. Whereas the Caribbean one is more relaxing with a nice mix of sea days/ports and the nice cruise experience?

 

I have never been to Hawaii and just figured this would be a nice way to see it, but I don't want to lose the "cruising experience" that we have come to love in our short time of cruising...But with prices being so expensive for air (at least I think it is, but could be wrong..) it is about $2100. for both of us to fly to either place...

 

Thanks all!

[TeresaJ]

Not sure if you have more than 2 in your cabin, but now through 3-15 NCL is offering 3rd person and more $149/pp on the Hawaiian cruises. We just booked one yesterday on the Pride of America for June 2010. If you've never been to Hawaii and the airfare is the same, I would say go for Hawaii, definitely.

 

Plus, you get to go to all the islands!!

[d man]

We've done both itineries and my vote is for Hawaii

 

enjoy

 

d man

[JessLCH]

I'm booked on both of these itineraries: Hawaii in August, 09 and So. Caribbean in February, 2010. To me, itinerary is one of the biggest deciding factors for a cruise. Lots of onboard group activities and shows are not my thing. So, I would go with Hawaii, especially if it is easier for you to get to.

[mexico5]

Thanks for your responses! I have read a lot of reviews on the Pride of America and the Dawn today! I guess the only thing I am concerned with Hawaii is that there are no sea days to just relax doing nothing...and also that Hawaii is probably SO beautiful that we will want to do a million excursions at each port and will have quite the Shipboard Credit Account!

 

Like my husband says, we can't go wrong doing either one! It is just the two of us going...It's probably just a matter of which one we do first!

 

Thanks again!

[Calgary North]

Hawaii is beautiful and well worth the trip. We did the cruise on the Aloha a couple of years ago and would not recommend the experience as a cruise. As a way of seeing the major islands in a short period, yes.

 

Consider this option: go for two weeks (to justify the long flight) and stay on one island for a week to relax and enjoy the sea and beaches. Join the cruise either before or after your island week.

 

We were able to find an expensive condo to rent over the web and now are looking forward to returning.

 

With the weather week we are having, a tropical vacation is a must!

 

Regards

[Lydia B.]

I have done 11 cruises including S. Carribbean and Hawaii...that said my absolute fav was Hawaii. It was so exotic and beautiful. Yes there are a lot of excursions, but you can build in some beach time and be lazy. We did do the hellicopter (book it yourself and save a bit of dough, we went with Blue Hawaian as they had the best safety record) it was still expensive, but when are you going to be able to fly over where the show LOST is filmed, a vacano, etc. We rented a care one day and it was cheap. Fly in a day early and go to Pearl Harbor an amazingly historical place. All in all my vote is HAWAII.

[mexico5]

Thanks fellow Calgarian, this must be what it's like to live in Alaska!!

 

That's what I have been torn about, should I see Hawaii by cruise or do a land vacation, since it would be my first time there. Hubby works so hard that I am worried I will have him rushing here, rushing there...with no sea days to relax...

 

We loved the Norwegian Star and were told it was similar to the Dawn so that is a bonus. I don't usually pay much attention to reviews, but I have to admit that the recent reviews for the POA weren't that great...

[Don Haynes]

Hawaii is first world, the southern Caribbean is third world. I choose Hawaii, now its your pick....

 

Every west coast person should choose Hawaii. Its a much shorter flight. Every east coast person should choose southern Caribbean. Its a much shorter flight.

[j-9]

My vote would be Hawaii. We've done it twice (on the Aloha). If you want it to be relaxing, get the "Revealed" books and just rent a car at each port and go plunk yourself on a beach or two each day. It is a great way to explore the islands. And is not too expensive.

WestJet has a seat sale on now too, so maybe you can pick up a cheap flight.

[mexico5]

Yes, Westjet does have a seat sale. It is still $1812.14 for the both of us though, but still better than Air Canada!

 

Point A - B for Florida is 10 hours and for Honolulu it is a little under 10 so I guess it's not that much different! I added the flying time and connecting time...

 

Thanks everyone for your thoughts!

[CanadaFour]

We have done both itineraires and I adore Hawaii.

Think of the Hawaii cruise as a sort of tasting menu. Each island is absolutely distinct and breathstoppingly beautiful. You get to sample each. From this, you can determine where you will spend your land vacation. We are addicts and have visited Hawaii 3 times since our Dec 07 cruise.

 

That said, with our dollar now in the tank, Hawaii is expensive. More expensive than spending those few extra days before or after a cruise in Florida. But... worth it. Spend a couple of days in Honolulu or explore the North Shore (we went out in a shark cage, and I can recommend a wonderful surf school-- run by firefighters-- yummy and safe).

 

You can probably fly on one of the charters to Orlando (Sunwing, Air Transat) cheaper than AC or Westjet. The odds of getting a direct flight increase as well. With our wonderful weather the fewer connections the better as you could end up stuck anywhere along your route. We spent hours and hours and hours at both Calgary and Vancouver airports...

 

I have found that flying into Tampa is cheaper than Orlando or Miami, if you don't mind a drive....

[Pickels]

Hi, we put down a deposit for NCL Dawn Southern Caribbean cruise in December 2009. We have done the Western and Eastern so far. Now I am second guessing myself and wondering about the Hawaiian cruise on Pride of America. The reason is that airfare is SO expensive from Western Canada that it is a little cheaper to fly to Honolulu and less flying time than Miami or Ft. Lauderdale and that we would be away from our dog 2 days less...I know...but we love our dog.

 

For those of you who have done both...is this kind of the comparison in a nutshell? ( I have read a lot of reviews on the POM) Think of the Hawaiian one as the Ports are the most important thing and it is basically a hotel that feeds you and you sleep there, with no sea days and ports everyday. Whereas the Caribbean one is more relaxing with a nice mix of sea days/ports and the nice cruise experience?

 

I have never been to Hawaii and just figured this would be a nice way to see it, but I don't want to lose the "cruising experience" that we have come to love in our short time of cruising...But with prices being so expensive for air (at least I think it is, but could be wrong..) it is about $2100. for both of us to fly to either place...

 

Thanks all!

 

OK, we have no experience on Hawaii; we've done Eastern Caribbean, Western Caribbean and Southern Caribbean, with one cruise thru the Panama Canal. We would love to do an Hawaiian Cruise but being from NY, it would be a very, very long flight. So the question I ask, (respecfully) is, what does Hawaii have that the Caribbean does not, putting volcanos aside. :o

[debshomespun]

I would also vote for Hawaii. We have cruised there twice, and it is fabulous. It can be done on a budget, as stated above, by renting cars at each port. You can find really great deals for rentals on line. Be sure the company you rent from will pick you up at the dock, as most of the rental locations are at the airports. Go over to the Ports of Call board here for Hawaii, and you will find tons of useful information.

 

We have done the southern itinerary before, and it is a great cruise, but if all things would be somewhat equal, I would definitely go to Hawaii! We are in Ohio, and the airfare to Hawaii is so expensive for us. It is relatively cheap to go to Florida for our cruises, so we tend to cruise much more in the Caribbean.

[boaterette]

well I love Hawaii. I use to live there. I also love cruising. I wouldn't do a hawaiin cruise that sailed only in Hawaii because you don't get the cruise experience. I like the shows and the sea days and the casino. You also don't get to spend much time on the islands. so you really can't explore them. So I would choose to cruise the southern carib. and do land vacations in Hawaii. Otherwise I personally would feel cheated out of both the cruise experience and the Hawaain experience.

[j-9]

it is hard to answer the "what does Hawaii have" question, because it is difficult to articulate. For me it is not scenery. It is a feeling the whole place has (okay, maybe not Waikiki). It is peaceful or tranquil. If it didn't sound so flaky, I'd say it is the energy. Of course it also has great beaches, warm ocean and great snorkeling. I come back from a Hawaii vacation far more refreshed than from anywhere else.

[mexico5]

Good point about our Canadian dollar! Food, drinks and excursions would be really expensive in Hawaii VS the Caribbean!

 

We would only be going in the day before the cruise and come back the same day as the ship comes in...

 

I guess the only difference I might thing of when I compare the two would be perhaps (I could be wrong) I would feel safer in Hawaii than the Caribbean, but with all the nutcases out there, who knows!

[TeresaJ]

Thanks for your responses! I have read a lot of reviews on the Pride of America and the Dawn today! I guess the only thing I am concerned with Hawaii is that there are no sea days to just relax doing nothing...and also that Hawaii is probably SO beautiful that we will want to do a million excursions at each port and will have quite the Shipboard Credit Account!

 

Like my husband says, we can't go wrong doing either one! It is just the two of us going...It's probably just a matter of which one we do first!

 

Thanks again!

 

One thing to think about since the itinerary includes two overnight stops, you could plan an excursion one day and a beach/relaxation day on the other day in that same port. That's what we're planning to do since we have two overnight stops in Maui and Kauai and don't want to do excursions everyday either.

[CanadaFour]

it is hard to answer the "what does Hawaii have" question, because it is difficult to articulate. For me it is not scenery. It is a feeling the whole place has (okay, maybe not Waikiki). It is peaceful or tranquil. If it didn't sound so flaky, I'd say it is the energy. Of course it also has great beaches, warm ocean and great snorkeling. I come back from a Hawaii vacation far more refreshed than from anywhere else.

There is indeed something special about Hawaii. There is something 'healing' about the place; forgive how flaky that sounds. For 'other than flaky reasons' I endorse Hawaii because:

-the temperature is reliably warm there. there is very little seasonal variation. It is seldom too hot, even in summer.

-especially when travelling with my children, I like that you are not approached by 'sellers' on the beaches or on the streets.

-at least a perception of safety (I speak of recent concerns in Baja region of Mexico). Of course, there are real safety issues everywhere.

-a more grown-up crowd. You typically see less beach drinking. Also-- as someone on the +40 side, I like that I sometimes have the best body on the beach when in Hawaii :-)

-extremely welcoming of children and families

-the aloha culture is a calming influence on me. I enter vacation mode as soon as I step off the plane

-leis

-I like the knowing that there are good hospitals (once again, I am sure that this is perception, not always reality) and that in case of emergency I will not have to deal with language issues.

 

I am doing research on the aloha culture and absolutely cannot get enough of it. At first, I thought it was put on for the tourist trade. It isn't. They truly have a different attitude towards life.

[CanadaFour]

Good point about our Canadian dollar! Food, drinks and excursions would be really expensive in Hawaii VS the Caribbean!

 

We would only be going in the day before the cruise and come back the same day as the ship comes in...

 

I guess the only difference I might thing of when I compare the two would be perhaps (I could be wrong) I would feel safer in Hawaii than the Caribbean, but with all the nutcases out there, who knows!

 

On the ship, you are paying for excursions and drinks in US$ regardless of where you sail. You would also be doing the night before in Florida, so that is in US$ too. If you stay in Honolulu for the night before, I would recommend the Ilikai Hotel (nope- I have no financial interest in this place). Good value and right next door to the Hilton Hawaiian Village (an awesome but frightfully expensive resort).

 

I appreciate your feelings regarding safety. I share them, although I recognize that it is probably more perception than reality. I know that we have stopped staying in downtown Calgary with the recent upsurge in gang violence (we had a close call in a recent incident).....

[bqkali]

I guess the only thing I am concerned with Hawaii is that there are no sea days to just relax doing nothing...and also that Hawaii is probably SO beautiful that we will want to do a million excursions at each port and will have quite the Shipboard Credit Account!

 

Thankfully, the last day is only a half day - you will be back on board by 2, so you can relax a little and briefly enjoy the cruise experience.

 

Why don't you add a day or two to before or after the cruise to sit back and relax? No, it's not cruising, but at least you can do nothing for a little while! Plus, don't forget, you don't have to spend all day every day in port...you can come back to the ship whenever you want and try to find your own balance of sea days and port days.